The opener is the debut of Tigre Infante (Metalico) as a referee. By a remarkable coincidence, Arkalis happened to go in to a (fake) seizure after taking the Cholo Driver but Metalico was right on top of it and did all the proper medical procedures as if proving he was ready for his new role.

Thoughts:

an Oro Jr. highlight

The semi-main had the most life of any match on the show but it still left me wanting more. They’ve run this same formula too many times and it could use a different bit. Twenty years from now, we may still be wondering if Black Panther was a good wrestler or just a guy who can have hot runs in trios matches. There would seem to be plenty of chances for CMLL to determine this themselves but they have no interest in doing so. There is a trend with Blue Panther matches where he’s treated like a delirious old man who has somehow accidentally put into a wrestling match but it turns out he can fight well against every odds. This works great for the tourists who have no idea who this graying man is and are very impressed at what it turns out he can do. I know Blue Panther is Blue Panther and I would like to see him just be good the entire match instead of being crazy old man doing topes. I probably should accept that’s not really going to happen at this point.

The CMLL tecnicas winning the first fall is very inspiring, like the Washington Generals winning a quarter. You know it is still going to go bad for them, and it did, but there was a small moment of victory. No Dalys, same story. La Metailca and Avispa Dorada worked the best together of any pair here, especially in the first fall. It’d be interesting to see them get real time in a match. Jarochita’s chops are bad. The third fall was leading to a tecnica comeback that lasted for one move.

Los Traumas were in street brawling mode in the main event. The Canis Lupus angle was Trauma II hammering Lupus’ taped ribs with elbow smashes until he could no longer continue. Dragon Bane did get a pin on Trauma II after Black Terry (who was checking on Lupus) got involved. It appeared to me like it was a three count but it’s reported as a DQ. Maybe the main event was elimination? That’s probably it.

Los Traumas and their father Negro Navarro are the current IWRG Trios champions. The last IWRG Trios title defense in Arena Naucalpan was over two years ago. Negro Navarro only appeared in IWRG once in 2018 (as a last minute replacement on a Montanez show) and not at all this year. This might be all connected to his health issues or not, I’m not sure.

I went to GALLI’s Anniversary show last night. It was alright. The main event ended up as an atomicos with Caristico, Titan, Bandolero and Golden Star against Barbaro Cavernario, Gringo Loco, Golden Dragon and Skayde Jr. (I think?) and was the best match of the show. The CMLL guys did their trademark spots for the crowd, who were definitely there to see them. (Maybe around 300 fans?) Caristico worked a lot with Gringo Loco. Cavernario looks so great even just doing simple things.

The rest of the show wasn’t strong. The opener was fun, I missed most of the next match, and then it slipped into a stretch of not good matches. Aeroboy tried hard in his singles match and I really need to know the story about what was going on with his opponent. GALLI undercards aren’t my favorite but things went more off the rails for a bit.

Tonight’s CMLL show has a rare midcard title match. Esfinge & Triton defend Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship in Arena Puebla (a location that is not Arena Coliseo.) Esfinge & Triton own these belts last March and have defended them once in September. Tiger & Felino should be good opponents. They’re also unlikely to win, as CMLL’s also setting up a Triton & Esfinge title defense in Arena Coliseo Guadalara for next Sunday. Not defending the belt for nine months and then doing it twice in seven days is typical CMLL. Tiger versus Triton still seems like a long shot to have a mask match, though at least this is giving them and these cards something interesting.

The main event has Caristico, Titan and Volador Jr. against NGD. Sanson fouled Volador last week. That seems like tonight should set up a singles match on 07/01. That plan may be changed if Volador is wrestling Forastero this Saturday instead. Gran Guerrero, Templario and Rey Bucanero take on Kraneo, Volcano and Soberano in the semi-main. Magia Blanca & Super Astro Jr. pop in the segunda. The show streamed at 9 pm.

AAA announced it’s annual pre-TripleMania Pilmigrance will take place on Thursday August 1st at 11 am. This is the annual march and church service, taking place a couple of days before TripleMania. Can I pitch my annual pre-TripleMania idea right here? They should run Arena San Juan or something like that size a day or two before TripleMania with a bunch of people who aren’t on the show. They can put on Twitch (and anywhere else they can stream if allowed) and just use it to do a live hard sell of TripleMania, preferably in English & Spanish. Maybe bring in a couple of people who are facing in matches to do an in-ring confrontation. It’s a more effective way to promote the bigger show to the internet audience and it’s a second live event to get people to make the trip who may just not want to come for a single AAA show. WWE’s managed to create a festival around WrestleMania, which has served to make WrestleMania seem like an even bigger deal, and that’s something AAA could borrow from.

Ultimo Guerrero and Terrible both had the ropes in the final pin. Edgar saw neither and counted Ultimo’s pin.

Sanson fouled Volador in the semi-main and rematch challenges followed.

Triton & Tiger feuded in their match.

Thoughts:

Maybe a very slightly better than usual Puebla show. The action in the main event wouldn’t look good in paper and occasionally didn’t look good in the ring (Terrible was limiting his bumps for this one) but they had a positive energy to it. Ultimo Guerrero can project that he really cares about a fight even while going thru the usual motions. It made the brawling parts and the stretch of kickouts a little but more meaningful.

The rest was not particularlystrong. The semi-main was fine for the time while not being their best work. Triton & Tiger focused on the rivalry hard but the rest of the match lacked excitement. Corsario de Fuego has moments where he makes a positive impression and also moments where he dropkicks his own patner to break up a pin.